A.J. Wester

A.J. Wester is a stage director and teaching artist. As a teaching artist, A.J. has been the stage director/vocal coach for the Opera Music Theatre Ensemble at Merit School of Music since its inception in 2010. She created and led the Musical Theatre Experience for After School Matters (Ragtime, Oklahoma, and Urinetown) and was stage director/vocal coach for Chicago Opera Theater’s "Chicago Opera Theater for Teens." She also serves on the voice faculty for The Chicago High School for the Arts in their musical theater program. She is a very active stage director in both opera and musical theater. She has led productions for St. Petersburg Opera (Tosca, A Little Night Music, La Traviata, and Into the Woods); The Savoyaires productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience and three Gilbert and Sullivan one-acts (The Zoo, Eyes and No Eyes, and Trial by Jury); The Bay View Music Festival (The Magic Flute); Intimate Opera (La Traviata and Così fan Tutte); and Opera Company Brooklyn (Roméo et Juliette). A.J. has been an Assistant Director for Chicago Opera Theater, Utah Opera, Indianapolis Opera, and San Diego Opera. A.J. holds a B.M. from Roosevelt University and an M.M. from DePaul University.